Chapter 100: Fight on

The air itself seemed to curdle within the vast chamber. No light penetrated its obsidian walls, leaving the space shrouded in an unnatural, suffocating darkness. Only the faintest tendrils of inky smoke, swirling like spirits, hinted at the existence of some unseen source of illumination.

In the dead center of the room, suspended high above a chasm of inky blackness, hung a sight that would curdle the blood of even the bravest. A colossal, undulating mass of pure darkness pulsed with an unholy energy. It wasn't a solid form, but rather a swirling vortex, its edges constantly shifting and churning as if consumed by some unseen hunger. Within the dark heart, a single, solitary blade hung suspended, a beacon of malevolent light against the all-encompassing gloom.

The blade itself was a masterpiece of both horror and artistry. Forged from a material that defied description, it shimmered with an obsidian sheen that seemed to devour the little light present. Its edges, impossibly sharp, were serrated with wicked teeth that glinted with a sickly, greenish phosphorescence. Etched along the length of the blade, in a language that seemed to writhe and pulse like living things, were glyphs that pulsed with an unnatural violet light.

Every line seemed to scream of forbidden power, of a weapon crafted to inflict unimaginable suffering. Six massive chains, each thicker than a man's torso and forged from a glowing, adamantine metal, held the blade aloft. These chains, engraved with intricate wards and runes, pulsed with a pale blue light that seemed to struggle valiantly against the encroaching darkness of the blade. However, upon closer inspection, the chains bore ugly scars, fissures that ran deep into their metallic flesh, and glowing runes that flickered erratically, hinting at their failing power.

Circling the chamber at regular intervals, etched directly onto the obsidian walls, were a series of magic seals. These seals, once glowing with a potent emerald light, were now shattered and broken. Jagged cracks spiderwebbed from each point of impact, the emerald luminescence replaced by a sickly, pulsating violet that mirrored the glyphs on the blade itself. The air around the broken seals crackled with malevolent mana. Looking at the broken seals and the weakening chains, it was clear that the darkness within the chamber had not always been so free. But now, thanks to the actions of Beatrice, the seals were broken, the chains weakening, and the darkness was on the verge of being unleashed upon the world.

"My, my, what cumbersome seals," the green-haired demon mused as she stared at the suspended blade. "The divine blade Nihil should have been in Aragorn's possession, but for some reason, that fool left it in the mortal plane. What an idiot, leaving behind a weapon comparable to the Fate sealer. Though it disgusts me to use a weapon of those damnable gods, anything to reclaim our world."

She raised a hand towards the blade. It had taken some time to get here. Locating the blade was easy enough, but it was deep underground beneath the academy. The seals for the blade were powerful, but they were not immune to time; they must have seen several generations. It was the only reason she could chip away at them. But now it was time for the final stretch, her mana flared as she prepared a spell, only to be stopped by a voice.

"I'm gonna have to stop ya there, lass," a deep aged voice spoke, followed by heavy footsteps. A large figure stepped out of the shadows. Professor Fergus stepped out into the open, his gaze locked onto the demon.

"This was much sooner than I expected," Beatrice mused, a smile gracing her face. "I had not expected you lot to figure out our intentions so quickly." Professor Fergus scoffed.

"One of yer demon buddies had said you lot merely wanted your organization to be known last ya attacked." He gave a chuckle. "It was obvious that was bullocks; ya demons were after the divine artifact this whole time."

"Well then you've figured it out," she mockingly clapped her hands. "What do you intend to do now? You can no doubt sense the gap in our mana. But please do not let that dissuade you," she licked her lips, as if a tempting thought passed her. "I do like bringing men like you to their knees."

"Bah! Mana ain't everything," the professor stated as his muscles bulged as his mana coursed through his body, his bones, and his cells. "I'll be beating ya to a pulp either way." The demon's grin grew wider, and even a tinge of red was spotted on her cheeks.

"You're welcome to try," she gave a sickly sweet laugh. ("It seems Arne will not be the only one to have some fun.")

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The air was filled with the demon's mana, snarling at them. William channeled his magic, weaving it with practiced ease with the surging power of Qi. Glyphs flared around him, solidifying and shimmering with mana. With a flick of his wrist, a crackling bolt of lightning erupted, aiming for the colossal demon that loomed over them. As expected, it barely flinched as the lightning danced harmlessly across its form. Undeterred, William followed up with a volley of fire, the flames erupting in a vibrant display before sputtering out upon contact with the demon's seemingly impervious skin.

"Damn it," William muttered, frustration lacing his voice. He wasn't naïve enough to believe his initial attacks would cripple the beast, but the sheer ineffectiveness was unsettling.

The demon, as if to punctuate William's worry, roared, the sound echoing through the forest like thunder. It slammed a fist into the ground. The earth shuddered with the impact, sending a shockwave that ripped through the trees like a scythe. William, caught off guard by the sudden movement, was thrown back with a grunt, his body tumbling through the undergrowth before coming to a rest against the gnarled roots of a fallen giant tree.

Before he could even assess the damage, the colossal demon lumbered towards him, its obsidian form casting a grotesque shadow that devoured everything. Panic surged through William, but before the creature could bring its massive fist down on him, a tear ripped through the fabric of reality with a screech that tore at William's eardrums.

From the inky void that opened, erupted a serpent of pure shadow. Its scales, the color of polished obsidian, shimmered with an otherworldly shine. Eyes that burned like embers glared out from its reptilian head. With a hiss that seemed to vibrate through the air, the serpent launched itself at the colossal demon, its immense form coiling around the beast's legs, its body constricting its every movement.

"Now!" Adrian's voice, laced with a manic excitement that sent shivers down William's spine, boomed across the clearing. He emerged from the dust cloud kicked up by the demon's earlier attack, unscathed.

Ruby was the second to act; she raised a hand towards the large demon. A tendril of inky blackness pulsed from her fingertips, wrapping around the demon's massive head like a veil. A hex; it was a curse designed to lull a beast into a false sense of security, a brief slumber before the inevitable clash.

Juliana, her face as ever etched with fear that she fought valiantly to control, stammered, "E-everyone… stay back!" A circular glyph, detailed with glowing runes, blazed to life around her trembling form. Chanting in a language they could not understand, she channeled the vestiges of her mana. From the glyph, erupted a beam of pure, concentrated destruction. The air crackled with its raw power as it slammed into the demon's chest, carving a deep crater around them due to the force.

The world seemed to hold its breath as the beam dissipated. Then they witnessed the result of Juliana's desperate attack. The demon stood defiant, the magic's destructive power seemingly ineffective.

Adrian, a frown creasing his brow, he muttered under his breath. "It's just fortifying itself with pure mana?"

The demon, its rage seemingly undeterred, opened its maw, revealing the same furnace of churning violent energy. A sphere of pure destruction coalesced within, threatening to unleash a devastating torrent of annihilation.

Juliana, her voice barely a whisper, choked out, "I… I don't have enough mana left to block that…" Her words were cut short by a glint in Adrian's eyes. With a flourish of his hand, another tear ripped through reality. This time, however, the summoned demon was far more humanoid. Its skin, though armored like living obsidian, bore a vaguely human shape. A massive sword and shield, seemingly forged from the same dark material, materialized in its clawed hands.

The enormous demon unleashed its attack, a torrent of energy tearing through the air like a screaming banshee. Adrian's summoned guardian, with a roar that echoed the demon's, raised its shield. A shimmering barrier, vast enough to encompass them all, erupted before them. The beam of destruction slammed into the barrier, the very air warping under the immense strain. The forest around them groaned in protest, trees crumbling under the sheer force of the impact. Despite the tremor that threatened to throw them off their feet, William watched in awe. The barrier held, shimmering but unbroken. A chuckle escaped Adrian's lips.

"Looks like I overdid it a bit. Never thought I'd have to resort to summoning one of my… better demons."

The colossal demon's mana still slammed against the barrier repeatedly, its frustration evident in the earth-shaking tremors. The violet energy attack sputtered out, replaced by a guttural roar of rage.

With a brief respite, they huddled together, their voices raised above the din of the collapsing forest.

"We need to cause internal damage," William asserted. "Its hide is impenetrable. Regeneration magic is a possibility for it too."

Adrian shook his head. "No complex magic. It's just brute force reinforced with pure mana. Incapable of anything more subtle."

Ruby, an uncharacteristically cruel smile twisting her lips, chimed in, "I have a hex that can disrupt its insides, but I need to get close."

William frowned. "Close enough for it to crush you like a bug. We need to create an opening."

Juliana frowned, fear still etched into her being at being so close to danger, but even so, she wanted to try her best at the very least. "I can try another attack, but it will take all my remaining mana. And even then, it might not be enough to break through its defenses."

William placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

"Don't worry about that. We'll work together. You focus on recovering some mana, and we'll create the opening for Ruby."

A tense silence descended upon them as they formulated their plan. Adrian, sketched the outline of a gambit in the dirt with his finger, unbothered by the demon's destruction. The plan was audacious, bordering on suicidal, but it was something.

"Here's the idea," Adrian began, his voice low and serious. "William, you'll use mobility spells to distract the beast. Keep it focused on you, away from Ruby."

William nodded grimly. He wasn't the most agile fighter, but he understood the necessity.

"Juliana," Adrian continued, "use this time to gather some mana. Even a little might be enough."

Juliana pursed her lips, fear flickering in her eyes, but she nodded her agreement.

Adrian turned to Ruby, his expression relaxed. "You'll need to be precise. One touch, and you cast your hex. No room for error."

Ruby met his gaze with a chilling indifference. "Don't worry, I won't mess up." She stated as the demon's beam finally stopped.

With a final nod, they dispersed, taking their positions. William, channeling his magic for basic reinforcement as well as Qi, felt a surge of invigorating energy course through his veins, straining his body. But it heightened his agility, his body feeling lighter and more responsive. With a burst of speed, he darted across the clearing, weaving through fallen trees and shattered rocks.

The colossal demon, momentarily distracted by the destruction of its previous attack, lumbered after him, its bellow echoing through the forest. William kept it at bay, dodging its clumsy swipes with practiced ease, leading it on a merry chase.

Meanwhile, Juliana sat within the protective dome of Adrian's summoned guardian, her eyes closed, channeling the remnants of her magic. Every fiber of her being focused on drawing in the ambient mana, the faint purple glow around her slowly intensifying.

Adrian stood beside his summoned demon. He kept a watchful eye on the battlefield, ready to intervene if necessary. The ground beneath his feet trembled with each thunderous step of the colossal demon as it pursued William.

("Hmm, this would have been much easier if I was alone.") He shrugged. ("But oh well, friends should share the glory.")

Time seemed to distort under the pressure of the situation. Each second stretched into an eternity as William's frantic movements kept the beast at bay. Finally, just as William felt his reserves of energy dwindling, Juliana spoke.

"I-it's not much," she panted, "but it should be enough for one more attack."

Adrian nodded. "Good. We're almost there."

He focused his gaze on the colossal demon, its bellows growing louder as it closed the distance on William. With a command, he issued a silent order to his summoned demon.

The demon, understanding its master's intent, raised its massive sword and slammed it against its shield. The clang resonated through the clearing, drawing the colossal demon's attention. With a roar of rage, it abandoned its chase and lumbered towards the summoned demon, its fist poised to smash through the barrier.

This was it. Their moment. William, seizing his opportunity, cast a final burst of speed, propelling himself towards Ruby's position. The demon, distracted by the guardian's challenge, failed to notice him approach.

('And this is checkmate.")